Signal light



Feb. 1925. 1 1,525,722

J. J. DARRELL SIGNAL LIGHT File d Jail. 19, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. dob/1 11' .Qarrd/ FY 7%rf-M- A TTORNEY Feb. 10. 1925.

J. J. DARRELL SIGNAL LIGHT IN V EN TOR.

1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan 19 dob/7 1/, flar/fi/ BY z- W ATTORNEYPatented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. DARRELL, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGENEM. FAR-NHAM, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL LIGHT.

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,197.

Lights, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal lights and in particular to shipslights, and is an 1mproved lamp box for projecting two separate beams oflight from a single source of illumination, such as from the ordinarylamp of the port or starboard light of standard maritime regulation.

A reflector arrangement is positioned within the lamp box andto the rearof the main signal light, to direct light rays laterally from the boxand behind the main signal light. The two lights being fixed withrespect to each other act in conjunction, and are a guide and check onthe angular movement of the vessel to either port or starboard toanobserver, such as the pilot of another ship.

All vessels universally carry the custom ary port and starboard lights,and when approaching and passing other vessels at night govern theirmovements by these lights and whistle blasts, but many ships, such assailing vessels, rely on the lights alone. Pilots often misjudge thecourse taken by an approaching vessel, or mistake the sig nals given andpursue the wrong course until too late to change the direction to avoida collision. Especiallyis this true if both vessels are approaching eachother in a direct line with both port and starboard lights visible tothe pilot, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide anauxiliary light, preferably of white color and positioned adjacent andfore-andaft to the said port and starboard lights, so that any deviationof either vessel from their direct approaching courses will show saidwhite light in combination with its respective main guide light of redor green, thus indicating to the navigators the course the other istaking and is an immediate and positive check as to the intention ofeach pilot.

At present, the pilots of approaching vessels check their movements bysighting tne fixed combination of port or starboard light with themasthead light. Lights are so numerous on vessels of the present day,that the above checking system is more or less unreliable, and Iconsider my invention an efiicient improvement to the art for the safetyof ships and passengers alike.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary light of thecharacter referred to with a lens arrangement adapted to project anydesired configuration, that is, the lens arrangement shown in thedrawlugs consists of a central lens and several smaller ones set aboutit in the same frame, the whole substantially presenting a Maltesecross, which projected light from the lenses will tend to distinguish itfrom other lights aboard the ship.

A. further object is to recess the auxiliary lighta definite distance,so that the main signal light will always stand out well defined, andthat the former light shall be visible only when approaching vesselsdeviate from their head-on courses.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of myinvention, will appear with reference to the subjoined specification andthe accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the position of two vesselsapproaching head-on, and with my combination guide lights radiating fromeach. The other positions illustrate the vessels deviating from thestraight line to pass each other, and show the method of direct andpositive checking of such movements by the visible and fixed relation ofthe main and auxiliary lights. R, G and signify respectively red, greenand white lights, and the dotand-dash lines indicate lines of vision.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the port light mounted on the screenbracket and showing my auxiliary light in fixed relation with the mainport or red light. Only a portion of the screen bracket is shown.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the port light and screen of Fig. 2, andas it appears to an approaching navigator. Fragmentary portions of thelamp box are broken away to show the air inlet to the box and the mannerof securing the box to the screen.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section of the lamp box, auxiliarylight lens arrangement and reflectorastaken upon the line 4% throughFigs. 2 and 3. The top view of the screen bracket is shown in full.

Adverting to the drawings and figures thereof: The numerals 5 and 6represent respective vessels nearing each other in a direct line ofapproach 7. andgoverned by the regulation maritime rules ofthe sea theirrespective courses were caused to be deviated, each vessel veering tothe, right. During the daylight hours the problem of checking thecorrect movements of ships is simplified, but at night extreme cautionis necessary, and my improvement is of benefit and aid during thedarkened hours chiefly.

In F 2 and 3 I have shown the main lens 8 in shading to indicate red forthe portv light, but it is'to be understood that a similar light butcolored green is used in connection with the starboard side of thevessel.

Throughout the figures a standardtype of Government regulation lamp isshown with my improvement incorporated therewith. The signal lightcomprises the screen bracket 9, which as heretofore stated is the portbracket and therefore is accordingly colored red to correspond with theport lamp lens 8. The lamp casing 10 is of sheet metal construction andsubstantially rectangular in shape, and is held'to the base 11 byperforated spring clips 12 engaging pintles 13 secured to the lower edgeof tliecasin'g 10.

The base 11 is rigidly secured to the bracket 9 as by bolts 14, Fig. 3,through the bottom board thereof. To the side board of the screenbracket is secured the usual tongue member 15 to engage the bracket 16on the lamp casing 10 for lateral support.

Air inlet passages 17 areformed near the lower edge of the inner side ofthe casing, and the upper structure of the box isprovided with a seriesof outlet openings 18 to provide an air circulation through the saidlamp box.

The exposed free front corner of the casing is provided with thecustomary main light. lens 8, and a source of illumination, such as anelectric light bulb 19 is situated within the lamp box and is positionedin close proximity to said lens.

The outer side of the casing 10 is recessed as at. 20, Fig. l, andsuitably supports'on its flange 21 a perforated plate 22 welded thereto.The latter has mounted thereon a series of smaller lenses 23 and acentral lens 24-. A similarly perforated plate 25 secured to plate 22 asby screws 26, holds all the lenses in position. Between the plates is ayielding and weather-proof gasket 27 of rubber or the like. All thelenses in the recess are preferably of white glass, the groupconstituting my auxiliary light. As stated heretofore the shape of therecess may be of any desired character, also the arrangement of thelenses and their shape.

IVithin the casing 10 and angularly positioned with relation to the bulb1.9 and auxiliary lenses, is a reflector plate 28 held in place by rigidflanged brackets 29, having guideways 30 therein. The reflector isvertically movable within these guideways and may be removed from thebottom for cleaning purposes when, the casing is detached from thescreen bracket 9. This reflector is suitably positioned to receive therays of light 31 from the bulb and reflect them through the auxiliarylenses 23 and 24. The beams of light being projected substantially atright angles to the longitudinal center of the ship, while those of themain light are projected forwardly. The reflector 28 may be constructedof any bright or polished metal, or it may be of silvered glass.

The lens mounting in the recess 20 may be of any desired configuration,or a single ribbed lens may be used in placeof the lenses 23and 24,although the several diffusions from the different lenses in the recessattract immediate attention as their contrast is marked from theordinary white lights aboard the ship.

Parts not specifically mentioned are those of usual construction andcommon to signal lights.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention in its preferredform, I wislr it understood that the same may be modified as practicesuggests. Therefore, the patent protection'that I desire is all of thatwhich comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims: I

1. In combination with a light-screen bracket, a ships lamp comprising acasing having a main colored lens in one end thereof and anauxiliarylens in one side, abase for the casing, a lamp within the casing mountedon the base and near the main lens anda reflector near the auxiliarylens posi tionedto receive rays of light .from the lamp and reflect thesame through the auxiliary lens outwardly and substantially at rightangles to the direction of travel of the ship, thebase adapted forpermanent securement to the bracket and the casing adapted for removableengagement with the said base.

2. In combination with a light-screen bracket, a ships lamp thereforcomprising a unit and removable lamp box having a main color'ed'lens inone end thereof, an auxiliary lensmounted in the side of said box, asource of light within the box and a reflector adjacent thereto andpositioned to reflect rays of light from said light sourcethrough theauxiliary lens in a lateral beam discernible from the colored mainlight, and visible only when out of alignment with the observer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. DARRELL.

